Tips to Faux Paint Ragging

Preparation

• Fill cracks, remove loose paint and even out rough spots before painting. Purchase contrasting colors for the best faux finish results with the ragging technique. High contrast gives a stronger look, while lower-contrast colors give a more subtle look. Prime all wall surfaces with latex primer and allow to dry.

Paint

• Apply a single coat of latex base color (either of the contrasting colors depending on the sample board design) to the walls and allow to dry. A second coat may be desirable for full coverage.

  Prepare glaze and secondary paint color for the ragging faux finish according to the directions on the product. Form a rag to make the desired design on the wall. Test the design the formed rag makes on a practice board before applying to the walls. Working quickly, rag the wall randomly, allowing the base coat to show through in the desired amount.

Tips and Fixes

• Vary hand positions and pressure to give variation to the look of the ragging finish.

  Have plenty of rags on hand and replace from time to time as they become paint-saturated.

  Work quickly and finish a complete wall so there are no paint lines from stop and start points.

  If an area has too much of the ragged-on glaze, allow to dry, then dip a dry rag into the original base coat and dab over the area.